The 1998 film "Rush Hour" is a police comedy set in modern-day Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles, Califoria, the new Chinese Consul's young daughter is kidnapped by the agents of "Juntao", a mysterious criminal mastermind. Two police detectives, Detective Inspector Lee of Hong Kong and Detective James Carter of Los Angeles, are brought together and decide to find and rescue the little girl on their own. Lee is a Chinese Martial Arts expert and Carter is a flamboyant Black officer who works alone. They have several adventures where they learn about each others far different cultures before they can accomplish their mission. At the beginning of the film Detective Carter wears a black leather outfit along with a silver medallion on a chain. The medallion is actually a United States Walking Liberty half dollar, a coin which was minted from 1916 to 1947.

On the day that the British colony of Hong Kong is to be handed over to China (July 1, 1997), a lavish dinner is being held.

The dinner honors Solon Han, a Chinese official who is being sent to Los Angeles as the new Consul. Present at the dinner is Thomas Griffin, a wealthy British official. Consul Han moves with his family to a mansion in Los Angeles. Shortly after he arrives, his daughter Soo Yung is kidnapped by agents of Juntao. The kidnappers want a ransom of $50,000,000 in cash for the girls return. Consul Han calls an old friend in Hong Kong, Detective Inspector Lee of the Hong Kong police, to come to America to help him. Detective Lee has been chasing Juntao for a long time and has recently recovered many valuable Chinese antiquities from Juntao's chief assistant Sang, a blonde-haired Chinese man. In Los Angeles, Detective James Carter, a black "lone wolf" detective, meets with a local criminal, Clive Cod. Clive does not want to go with Carter and pulls a gun.

Carter wears a silver medallion.

The gun that Clive Cod is holding is a Browning Hi-Power automatic. From the size of the coin in the medallion, the size of the gun, and actor Chris Tucker's fingers, the coin is around 32 mm in diameter which is about the size of a half dollar (30.6 mm). The design of the medallion matches the United States Walking Liberty half dollar.

Silver, 30.6 mm, 12.50 gm, San Francisco Mint
Walking Liberty half dollars were minted from 1916 to 1947.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are staying at the Consul's house while working on the kidnapping. At the Los Angeles police headquarters, Detective Carter talks to another detective.

Detective Carter implies that he is a "gift to women" and is constantly harassing the woman detective Tania Johnson who is in training to join the "bomb squad." Detective Carter heads for the Consulate to offer his assistance to the FBI.

The FBI agents do not want Carter around and learn that Detective Lee is coming from China. The agents ask the Los Angeles Police Department to assign a detective to keep Lee out of trouble and away from them. Detective Carter is chosen. Detective Carter picks up Detective Lee at the airport and drives him around Los Angeles, taking him to the famous Chinese Theatre and other "oriental" themed places.

The pair get stuck in "rush hour" traffic and argue over music. Detective Lee likes "The Beach Boys" which Carter has no interest in. Lee manages to get away from Carter and both head for the Consulate. Carter picks up a telephone and Sang, Juntao's main assistant, telephones the ransom demand for the little girl.

The ransom is $50,000,000 in currency, $20,000,000 in $50 bills, $20,000,000 in $20 bills, and $10,000,000 in $10 bills. Thomas Griffin also arrives at the Consulate and advises Han to pay the ransom.

The FBI agents get the money ready and expect Sang to telephone again and tell them where to leave the money. Lee and Carter head for a Chinese restaurant which is also Sang's headquarters. A fight ensues with Lee displaying his Martial Arts expertise. A gunfight also occurs and the two detectives find Thomas Griffin there.

Thomas Griffin is revealed as the mysterious "Juntao" and the mastermind of the kidnapping. More fighting continues at the restaurant between the two detectives and Sang's henchmen.

Sang escapes and telephones the Consulate. He raises the ransom to $70,000,000 and gives the instructions for delivering the money. The money is to be delivered during the opening of the "China Exposition", a display of Chinese antiquities including some recovered from Juntao's collection.

The FBI again counts and packages the money.

The agents use a money-counting machine.

Lee and Carter head for the Exposition where they encounter Griffin and Sang.

Sang tells Carter that the kidnappers have attached explosives to the little girl to prevent a rescue. Carter goes outside and finds a truck with the little girl inside.

Detective Johnson, the bomb-squad trainee, is there also and she is put to work.

Griffin picks a suitcase containing some of the money and climbs to the top of the building where he has arranged for a helicopter to pick him up. Lee follows him.

Griffin falls and accidently opens the suitcase scattering money. Lee is left hanging onto a large pipe and as he falls he is saved by Carter.

Both men, tired from the running around, lay down on the floor.

The prop currency notes used in the film are quite authentic looking. Soo-Yung, the little girl, is reunited with her father.

The FBI agents offer Carter a position with the FBI but he declines. The two detectives fly off to Hong Kong for a vacation.

Detective Lee now sings along to Edwin Starr's 1970 Motown song "War."

Director: Brett Ratner
Writers: Jim Kouf, Ross LaManna